Glenn

In order to speak from working knowledge rather than present an armchair argument, I got up out of the armchair and went outside and built a wheel forge. Blueprint BP0462 Wheel Forge is the result. The wheel forge took 45 minutes to build. After 25 minutes of burning only wood I had metal up to red heat. That is 1 hour and 10 minutes of investment. I can report that the forge does work, but my version needs improvements. See BP0462 for details and a solution for using wood as a fuel. Blueprint BP0463 Wheel Forge 2 is an improved version based on coal as a fuel. After construction and before the first fire was built the forge underwent modifications. I will need to build a fire in this forge to see how it heats but already there are a couple of additional modifications planned. No one ever said it had to be right the first time. You just have to have something to base the improvements on. That is 2 forges built from automobile parts at little or no cost. From nothing, nada, zip, to red hot metal is just over an hour including the construction time for the forge. It can be done. There is already a spin-off idea for yet another forge of a different design in the works. The search is now in progress for the parts.

There are several Blueprints on how to build a fire. BP0036 Fire and Smoke 01 BP0037 Fire and Smoke 02 BP0042 Fire and Smoke 03 BP0045 Fire and Smoke 04 BP0046 Fire and Smoke 05 BP0048 Fire and Smoke 06 BP0137 Fire Starter there may be other Blueprints on the same subject

These IForgeIron Blueprints on tongs may give you some ideas BP0097 Brazing Tongs BP1004 Woop Tongs BP0303 Swivle Link Universal Tongs BP0080 Tongs 02 BP0228 Tong Rack BP0083 Tongs 03 BP0098 Tongs 100 BP0099 Tongs 200 BP0219 Pincher Tongs BP0015 Tong Rivets BP0079 Tongs 01 BP0314 RR Spike Tongs BP1006 Tong Clips

Just put them on the fire and get them hot. Whack it with a poker and they should break apart. Otherwise a hammer works well. As HWooldridge says, a burlap sack saves the pieces. There are several Blueprints on how to build a fire. BP0036 Fire and Smoke 01 BP0037 Fire and Smoke 02 BP0042 Fire and Smoke 03 BP0045 Fire and Smoke 04 BP0046 Fire and Smoke 05 BP0048 Fire and Smoke 06 BP0137 Fire Starter there may be other Blueprints on the same subject

Your post vise looks remarkably like a drill. Spray it with penetrating oil twice a day. Bump it with a wooden mallet before each application of the penetrating oil and be patient.

Why not just apply a ball peen hammer to the rivet a little at a time to tighten it. You did it originally to form the rivet. It can be done cold or with a little heat, your choice.

You may want to look at the following Blueprints: BP0101 Anvil Repair BP0249 Graphic Anvil Abuse

Blueprint BP0409 Anvil Hold Down Blueprint BP0461 Anvil Hold Down

Down next to the ground, see the lead weight cast around the end of the chain? Flip it over the anvil, and the chain holds the work down. Half of a two pound coffee can filled with molten lead. After it set up, peel off the can.ppw

Blueprint BP0457 Anvil Hold Down

Blueprint BP0338 Making your own Charcoal how to make your own charcoal

Funny how when you see a dryer ask if you can throw it on the back of YOUR truck to help the fellow out, a second dryer appears from nowhere. Will both followed me home. So far I have one work table several metal panels and two dryer motors. Will try to get them running tomorrow and see if they work. Oh yes, 8 feet of 4" diameter flexible metal dryer hose appeared in the truck bed also.

How many times have you passed over the old metal 5 gallon buckets because they were dirty, full of muck or whatever. These 3 metal buckets followed me home. They are 11-1/2 inches diameter by 13-1/2 inches tall. That is real close to 10 diameter by 40 inches of chimney flue. I am looking for a few more so I can then try them as a chimney on a forge.

Hotforge (Ed) has taken ill and they are pumping antibiotics into him. They have no idea what the problem is at present but are looking for a reason. Prayers would be appreciated.

3 feet diameter x 10 feet long A = 1/4 x pi x D squared = 7.068 x 10 feet long = 70.68 cubic feet density of pine (Lange's handbook of chemistry) is 32 pounds/ cubic foot 70.68 x 32 = 2262 pounds. I will guess that this is for dry seasoned wood. Wet or fresh wood will weigh more. A 3 foot diameter log is HUGE !! (for this area anyway)

Is the ring or hook bending on the 1/2 inch stock? And what size log (diameter and length) are you working?

Blueprint BP0131 Coal, Coke, and Rocks may help. I have some power plant coal that has to be sifted. The slag - rocks - junk can be used to heat with, but you can not weld with it. The fines are better for heating and may or may not weld on a good day. I use it because it came at a very good price. "Real" coal out works this stuff hands down. Get some good coal for the forge welds. Keep it in a 5 gallon bucket in the trunk of your car if needed.

Find the sweet spot of the forge and then reposition the fire pot so the sweet spot is level with the table top. That way any time you put an iron into the fire it rests on the table and is in the proper position in the fire. There is nothing wrong with using a square forge hood. Consider cutting 2 inches from the bottom of the hood on the table side. This will allow you to rest longer stock on the table while it is in the fire being heated. You may want to close the area between the rim and table as things will always fall into the holes. You may want to leave one of the open corners of the table so you place a "cover" on it to keep things from falling in the hole. Cut the drum to where it is level with the fill material and about 3 inches wide. Remove the "cover", place a bucket under the table, and rake the forge clean through the hole and into the bucket. Makes clean up real easy. Wheels on the lets to make the forge easy to put back into the garage? Nothing wrong with making changes so things work better.

Blueprint BP0392 Log Hooks, J Hooks, and Log Dogs shows some log dogs which are used for pulling logs rather than turning logs. I have broken the handles out of both my peaveys. Either they don't make wood like they used to, or I put a lot of load on the tool handles. The ring dog may be another way to get the job done.

You want to write a review of the book or at least tell us why?

What size stock is the ring dog in the photo made from, what is the length of the dog and what is the diameter of the circle? A 5 foot lever are could exert a lot of forge, and the strength of the materials and hook concerns me. I don't want to straighten it out with me on the wrong side of the log.

What size log can you turn with this tool before you bend the hook? How does it's use compare to a cant hook on larger timber?

Look at Blueprint BP0413 Anvil Accessories - Roll Bar for some ideas.

Mild steel is just fine for a header. Don't try to over engineer simple.

I spoke with Larry and he is looking for a blacksmith that can volunteer a weekend to demonstrate blacksmithing to this group of kids in Mississippi. If your interested, give him a call or contact him pm through the site.